Kick-over fishing tool



Jan. 19, 1965 R. R. RICHERT KIcK-ovER FISHING ToorJ Filed March 8, 1962 Roy R. Richert,

BY @wf MM United States Patent O 3,166,350 KICK-OVER FISHING TOOL Roy R. Richert, P1). Box 60, Jennings, La. Filed Mar. S, 1962, Ser. No. 178,482 14 Claims. (Cl. 294-556.130

This invention relates to fishing tool equipment designed to be lowered through a small tubing or casing into a well and more particularly to a kick-over fishing tool of the spring operated type.

During the drilling or operation of wells or bore holes, it often occurs that various tools such as sub-surface instruments, cutting tools, etc. fall into the hole. Often, in the case where the well or hole has been cased, these lost objects fall through a casing or tubing near the top which has a relatively small diameter and eventually come to rest at the bottom of 4the hole, which normally is cased with a larger tubing, in a leaning position. With this small casing used at the top of the well and with the lost tool or instrument coming to rest in a leaning position, it is practically a necessity that the fishing or grappling tool usedito recover it be both extremely small and flexible or bendable so that it can not only pass through the small casing but also align itself with the lost tool, thus permitting the tool to be fished out in the most rapid and economical manner. t

Various prior workers in the junk fishing tool field have been aware of the desirability of a flexible fishing tool which will tilt over or align itself with a leaning object and have proposed several solutions to the problem. None of these proposed solutions, however, have proved to be very practical and thus have enjoyed a very limited commercial success. j t

One of the heretofore proposed flexible fishing tools utilized a fishing device havin-g [a plunger or piston which tilted over a grappling device through a rack and pinion or gear arrangement. To operate the plunger or piston, the fishing tool was suspended or held by 1a hollow tubelike operating string through which a fluid under pressure was applied to the piston, `thus tilting the grappling device. Needless to say, this type fishing tool was rather large, complicated to operate, fragile, susceptible to failure in use, and'expensive both to manufacture and use. The use of a hydraulic fluid to operate the fishing tool also required the use of large, heavy, hollow tubing or string which, in turn, required a heavyderrick or drilling rig for proper support plus a hydraulic pumping arrangement. All of this equipment and weight'not only resulted in a handling and transportation problem but also increasedthe number of skilledrpersonnel required for a shing operation, adding unnecessarilyttto the cost ot"y operating the device. Y

A"second and somewhat similar approach to retrieving lost objects `from a-well orhole involves literally washing the object into a basket orY catching device by means of a stream of fiuid under high pressure. v'This approach ice spring and a pair of shear pins which maintain the spring under compression until the device is to be operated. To tilt over the fishing tool one of the shear pins is sheared, thereby releasing the spring so that it bears upon a knuckle joint which, in turn, moves a grappling tool outward and at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the fishing tool. To again straighten the fishing tool 'to permit it to be easily withdrawn from la small hole, the second shear pin is sheared, thereby releasing the perssure applied by the spring to the knuckle joint.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a spring operated kick-over type fishing tool.

Another object of this invention is to provide a kickover fishing tool which is more positive in action, simpler in operation, .and less expensive to construct than heretofore known like devices.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a kick-over fishing tool which requires no special operating or supporting equipment for its proper operation.

Yet still another object of this invention is to provide a kick-over tool which can be placed in a first tilted-over position by a jarring motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a kickover fishing tool which can be returned from a tilted position to a straight position by a jerking motion.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a kick-over fishing tool which utilizes ya spring for tilting over a grappling device.

Yet still a further object of this invention is to provide a kick-over fishing tool which utilizes a plurality of shear pins so that the shearing of one pin serves to tilt a grappling device held by the kick-over tool while the shearing of the second pin serves to straighten the kick-over tool is extremely limited in its use since not only is extremely high pressure equipment required but only a fewtypes of lost objects can be retrieved by this method.

Yet a third type fishing tool, utilizing a leaf-type spring which continually acts to force a grappling tool away from the normal axis of the fishing device, has been proposed. This type fishing tool totally lacks `any versatility since the tilting feature is non-controllable, thus material- Y plug 12 is enlarged at its lower portion 18 for receiving an upper tubular joint member 2t) which preferably has ly limiting the usetowhich it can be put and substantially t increasing the handling problem associated `therewitlrboth above and below ground. i Y i i According to the present invention, lit has been found i that the above-named difiiculties encountered with here-.

Itofore known fishing tools can be substantially eliminated vby utilizing a kick-over fishing-device employing a loaded and grappling device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a kickover fishing tool having a small outer diameter which can be lowered into a cased well by a single or braided cable supporting line. Y

These and further objects and, advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following description and claims and the appended drawings wherein:

' FIGURE 1 is a vertical, sectional view of the kick-over fishing tool in its loaded and straight position;

FIGURE 2 is .a vertical, sectional view or" the tool showing the grapple holder in angular relation with the longitudinal axis of the tool; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the tool showv ing the grapple holder returned to a straight position for withdrawal from a well or` bore hole. V

.With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughoutthe various views, and -Withinitial attention directed to FIGURE l, reference numeral l0 is used generally to designate a kick-over fishing tool constructed in accordance with the concept of the present invention. This kick-over fishing tool comprises an end plug 12 'adapted to be secured `at its Vupper end to the endofla single strand wire or braided cable drillline 14, the connection being preferably made by suitable,rcooperating screw threads 16 on the respective elements. The end the same outer diameter as the lower portion of the end plug so that a smooth outer housing is `formed having no unnecessary projections. The lower portion 18 of the. endplug and the upper end of the tubular joint member 20 are joined 4together by any suitable method such as the cooperating screw threads 23 shown.

The lower end 22 of the tubular joint mem-ber Ztuis provided internally with a lipvwhi'ch forms a seating sur,

face 24 around the interior of the member. A pair of threaded apertures 2d are provided through this lip and are adapted to receive upward shear pins 23 which are retained in the apertures by threaded Allen plugs 3l?.

'The lower portionV i8 of the end plug l2 is also provided with a threaded bore .32 located at its center into which is threaded the upper end of a piston rod 34. The lower end of the piston rod is provided with a piston ork plunger 36.v A collar or sleeve 33 surrounds the rod 3d so as to provide a slidable passageway through which the rod` can move `and is provided at its upper end with an enlarged head dit which forms a seating surface s2 for cooperation with the seating surface 2d of the tubular v joint member 2h in a manner that will be more fully explained hereinafter. The collar 3S is provided with a pairof apertures de at substantially its middle portion which extend partway through the collar for receiving the upward shear pins 28. With the shear pins located within these apertures, the head [itl of the slidable collar 38 is maintained against the lower portion I8 of the end plug 1.2. as is clearly seen in FGURES l and 2. j

The lower end 46 of the slidable collar 33 is threaded in the top of the cased bore until the tool reaches the larger type of casing at the bottom where the lost instrument or tool is lodged. Assuming that the over-all outside diameter of the kick-over tool is approximately one and three-quarters inches and its length about inches (dimensions which appropriately may be selected for the fishing tool of the present invention) the tool can pass through this smaller tubing used in casing the upper portion of a bore hole with no diculty whatsoever.

lVhen the kick-over fishing tool is finally lowered so that it is positioned just above or beside the lost tool or instrument, the lishing tool will be in the extended position shown in FIGURE l. It is now desirable to tilt the grappling tool carried by the coupling 3@ so that it can engage the lost tool or instrument. This tilting or kicking-over of the grappling tool is accomplished by subjecting the kick-over fishing tool to a sudden downward jar, such as is produced by dropping the tool against the lost instrument or bottom of the bore hole, which and receives a middle tubular joint member 43 which has the same outer diameter as the tubular Vjoint member Ztl. ,Y

The upper end Sil of the member i8 is seated against the lower end 22 of the member Ztl so that any downward movement or pressure exerted on the upper member.

2@ will be transmitted through the middle member@ to the lower portion of the kick-over lishing tool. Thev lower end of the member 43 is threadably connected'at 52 over a reduced diameter threaded portion 53 of a lower tubular member S4.

MThe lower tubular member 541 has a second reduced diameter threaded portion 5S whirchis provided with a when added to the existing pressure exerted by the cornpressed coil spring 66, is sutlicient to shear the downward shear pin 58. With the pin 58 sheared, the compressed coil spring 66 will drive the ypiston 62 longitudinally downward as indicated by the arrow A in FIGURE 2 into engagement against the angled surface '77, thereby kicking the shaft 73 to the right as indicated by the arrow B.

Since the slidable collar 38 is threadably secured to Y member 48 vand the member 2@ butts securely against pair of apertures-56 that are aligned with one another for Y receiving a downward shear pin 5? which is positioned ,asy shown'in FIGURE l. Positioned within the `chamber d@ formed within the threaded member 54 is a piston or plunger 62 which is provided with a hole y56 through which the shear pin 58 passes so that the piston is normally held inthe position shown inNFIGUREVl. Located 'below the upper end 63 of the piston 62 andthe lower face ofthe piston 36 is a coil spring 66 which is maintainedk in va compressed stateby the shear pins 28 and 5S holding the pistons 36 andu, respectively, in thekposition shown in FIGURE l. l

The lower Vreduced diameter threaded portion 55 of the tubular member 54 is ,shown threadablyrconnected at e@ to the upper portion 70 of a ball and socket or knuckle joint shown generally at T Z. Thelower interior portion 7d of this socket member is spherically formed to securely enclosepand hold a ball member '7,6 which member 48, the upward shear pins Z8 will not be affected Vby the downward force utilized to shear the pin 58. With the shaft 78 to the right, the kick-over shing tool is now ready to beV manipulated Vin a manner well knownin the grappling art until the grappling devicek engages with and is secured to the lost instrument or tool at which time the kick-over fishing tool and lost instrument are ready l to be returned to the surface.

forms the upper portion of'a shaft 7S to the lower endV of which a shing Vor grappling tool S43 of any desired type may be attached Vthrought the threaded 'couplingStl As canbe'see'nin the various ligures, a portion ,ofthe ball member '76 has' been removed so asftoform a plane,

' canted surface "77 which' is at an'A acute angle in relationv'ship tothe longitudinal axis of the shaft 'ZS and kick-over ishing tool lil.' In orderthat the shaftY 78 may assume Y ya Vdesired liexible angle with respect yto the.axis ofthe l `kick-over fishing tool,'the Vaxial bore through the lowerf socket member .'74 is Vgiven a conical shape, as shown ,a-tsz. 'YQ 'a j n The operation of the kick-over fishing tool may Vbe'A vexplained insubstantially the `following manner:

" Assume that a lost tool, such as a sub-surface instrument, has fallen througha small tubing ina well bore and is leaned over in a large pipe atthe bottom of the As can be seen in FIGURE 2,'it would be impossible to withdraw the kick-over fishing `tool lll in its tilted condition ythrough the smalltubing in the well Vbore since the outerdiameter of the combined tool and lost instrument'in this position would'b'e too great. Thus, it is necessary that the kick-over -fishing tool be returned `toa straightened position similar to that in which it was in prior to being lowered'linto the well bore. This straightening out of Vthe'tool is accomplished `by subjecting the fishing tool to a sudden sharp upward jerk, such as is produced by jerking the cable, 14 upwar`dwhich is suii-Y cient to shear the upward shear pinsZS. j

With the pins 28 sheared, the end plug l2 and tubular joint member Ztl vare free toY longitudinally slide upward along the outer surfaceoff the collar 38 until theY seating surface Y2a Aof* fthe member Ztl'engages and seats'against movedupward through ythe passageway of the collar- 33 as indicated by the arrow C of FIGURE Zgthereby releasing the tension Vexertedby the piston 36 on the coil spring 66. VWith'the coil spring 66 no longer in a compressedy state and thus noflongerpexerting a downward force upon the piston 62, the shaft-78 will'move by gravity to tthe left as indicated bythe arrow-D andthe cornplete Vfishing tool wi1l`assume `the' position shown "in bore. VA' suitable fishing oir-grappling tool Se for re-` trieving the lost instrument orftool is threaded into theI i coupling d@ offthe kick-over fishing tool` shownin FIG- Y URE 1 and this Vloaded fishing' tool is then connected'to asingle strand wireor braided cable such as shown at ld.

The kick-over iishing toolisnow ready to be lowered Y by thewire or cable down through the smaller tubing FIGURE 3.y The kickover fishing'toolfand thelost instrument ortool connected thereto can-now be withdrawn through the small tubing in thebore hole.

To reload the kick-overr fishing tool' so lthat `it may again-be used it is only necessary to unscrew the ball and socket or knuckle joint '72 from the tubular. member 54.

The piston62, coil spring 66 and piston will nowmovel downwardly, until the apertures 26 of the member Ztl r are aligned with theaperturesk 44 inthe collarvSS. T he old upward sheanpins V2i;k are now removed by taking out the Allen plugs 30 and new shear pins `are inserted.

The Allen plugs are vnow rethreaded into the;apertures` Y215. The piston .625 is now-pressed upward againstthe spring 66 until apertures 56 of the member 54 are aligned with the aperture 64 in thepiston. A new downward shear pinV 58 is theninserted into the aperture thereby ejecting the old pin and locking thepiston` in its loaded position. The ball and socket joint 72 is now rethreaded onto the member n54 thus completing the reloading of the kick-over fishing tool. Obviously this reloading could be `accomplished by unscrewing various other members 1f such were desirable. j v

Although the novel featureslof this invention have been disclosed in connection with a fishing tool, it is` to be realized that the principlesof. this invention can be incorporated in various other tools. For example, this invention could also be used for drillingor surveying varioustypes of bore holes. v i j Y It will be `apparent from the foregoingthat the kickover fishing tool of this invention is extremely rugged,

compact and will be both inexpensive to manufacturev and use. Due to the small size and light weight of the fishing tool it can be used where other prior known fsh. ing devices would not fit and `does not -require .that a special drilling derrick beset up over the bore well. The expensive tubing or piping and the associated hydraulic'pumping system heretofore thought necessary to operate a fishing device properly has also been completely eliminated, thus substantially reducing the `number of personnel necessary to operate the device, the amount of equipment required and the set-up time involved. vThe unique operation of the kick-over fishingA tool also permits the tool rto be tiltedor kicked over when desiredp-the fishing step accomplished and the tool then straightened be considered in all respects as illustrative "and not re str ictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by. the foregoing description, and all changes which come 'within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intendedto be embraced therein. f

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: e

l. In a well fishing tool apparatus, an assembly com- `prising a housing, springrmea'ns located insaid housing,

first and second releasable means associated with said spring means for maintaining said spring means in a compressed state, universal joint means located Within said housing, means connecting said spring means to said universal joint means, said first releasable means being operable to deflect said universal joint means at an angle with respect to said housing means when said housing means is jarred, said second releasable means being operable when said housing means is jerked in al direction away from said universal joint means to release said compressed spring for returning said universal joint means to its normal undeected position.

2. in a well fishing tool apparatus according to claim l wherein said first and second releasable means are shear pins.

3. In a well fishing tool apparatus, an assembly comprising a housing, a spring means located within said housing, a first shear pin associated with one end of said spring means, a second shear pin associated with the e other end of said spring means, said first and second shear pins normally maintaining said spring means in a compressed state, a universal joint mounted in said housing, plunger means carried by said spring means for engaging and tilt-ing said Vuniversal joint at an angle with respect to said housing when said first shear pin is sheared, means for shearing said first pin to release said one end of said spring to tilt said universal joint, and

for connecting said apparatus to a supporting means, rod

means secured to said end means and mounted in said rst tubular means, means for securing said second tubular means to the other end of said first tubular means, joint means mounted in the other end of said second tubular means, said joint means including operating means for defiecting said joint means at an angle to `said housing means when acted upon by a drive means, drive means mounted in said second tubular means between said rod means and said operating means, and first releasable means mounted in said second tubular means for maintaining said drive means in an inoperative condition, said first releasable means being actuatable by a jarring motion 'on said apparatus to release said drive means whereby said drive means acts upon said operating means to deiiect said joint means, said means for securing said second tubular means to the other end of said first tubular means being a slidable collar means mounted on said rod means, said collar means including second releasable means for holding said driving means against said operating means, said secondreleasable means being actuatable by a jerking motion on said apparatus to stop said drive means from acting on said operating means whereby said joint means is returned to its original position. 4

, ,5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first andV said second releasable means for shear means.

6. An apparatus foruse in wells comprising housing means including a first tubular element, socket `means formed in one end of said tubular element, ballmeans having a canted surface rotatably mounted in said socket one end of said rod, piston means mounted on the other end of said spring means for engaging against and mov ing said canted surface into alignment withV the faceiof said piston means, releasable means for maintaining said piston means out of iiush Contact with said canted surface, said releasable means maintaining said spring means in a compressed state, and supporting means including a second tubular element secured to said' other end` of said first tubular element for jarring said releasable means in a downward direction, said releasable means being released by said jarring so that said piston engages said canted surfacethrough the downward pressure of said compressed spring means thereby deflecting said canted surface and said shaft means at an angle with respect to said housing means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second tubular element is slidably mounted around said sleeve, additional releasable means connected between said second tubular `element and said sleeve for maintaining said tubular element and said sleeve in a first position, means securing the other end of said rod to said second tubular element so that an upward jerk on said supporting means releases said additional releasable means thereby permitting said second tubular element to slide along saidsleeve until said one end of said rod is moved-to release said compressed spring means.

8. A fishing tool for use in wells comprising a housing, said housing including a first tubular element, a socket joint mounted in one end of said tubular element, ball means mounted in said socket joint, a shaft secured to said ball means and extending through said one end of said tubular element, coupling means secured to said shaft for receiving a grappling tool, said ball means having a plane surface at an acute angle vwith respect to said shaft, a

element, a first shear pin'positioned in said aperture forv `holding said piston out of flush contact with said plane surface and said coil spring in a compressed condition, a

lsecond tubular-element slidably mounted around said hollow sleeve, an end plug mounted in the end of said second tubular element, cable means secured to said end plug for supporting and operating said fishing tool, means secur# ing the other end of said rod to said end plug, a first and second aperture'extending-through said second tubularv element and mating with a pair of recesses in said hollow sleeve, and second shear pins'extending through said apertures into said recesses for connecting said second tubular element to said hollow sleeve, said rst shear pin being sheared when said fishing tool is lsubjected to a jarring force through operation of said cablemeans so that said piston is forced against said plane surface thereby'deflecting said shaft at an angle with respect to said housing,

said second shear pins being` sheared when said fishing tool is subjected to a jerking force through operation of said cable means, said piston headbeing released'by the shearing of said second shear pins so that said coil spring is released and said piston is pulled up thereby permitting said shaft to return toits original position.

9. A fishing tool according vto claim 8 wherein said second shear pins' are held in place by removable means.

10. 'An apparatus comprising a laterally tiltable'tool, means for connecting rsaid toolv to the lower end of a supporting cable, biased spring means coupled to said connecting. means and arranged to move and hold said tool in a tilted position, retaining means associatedvvith,V

the ends of the spring means holding the spring means in an energy stored condition, and impactresponsive means arranged to release said retaining means at oney endof said spring means upon the application of an impact force on the free end of said tool whereby said spring means acts to move and hold said tool in atilted position. f

11. A11 apparatus comprising a ,laterallyv tiltable Ytool` movable from an untilted to a tilted position, means for connecting said tool to the lower end of a supporting cable, compressed spring means coupled to said connecting meansA and arranged to move and hold said tool in said tilted position, impact responsive means arranged so that it will release the spring means for partial expansion on the application of an impact force on the free end of said tooly whereby saidspring means acts to move and hold said tool in said tilted position, and means responsive to a jerk on said cable permitting complete'expansion of said spring means whereby said tool is free to return to said untilted position. l

12. An: apparatus comprising a' fishing tool, tilt over means including a ball and socket for connecting said fishing tool to thelower end of a supportingv cable, compressed spring means carried` by said tilt over means, retaining means associated with the ends of the spring means holding the spring means in an energy stored condition, and yimpact responsive means coupled to one end of such retaining means and arranged toreleasc said retaining means at one end of said spring means upon the application" of an impact force on the free end of saidtool, said one end of said springmeans acting on said ball to tilt and hold said fishing tool in a tilted over position when itis released. j. Y

13. An apparatus comprising a fishing tool, movable from an untilted to a tilted position, tilt over means including a ball and socket for connecting said fishing tool to the lower end of a supporting cable, compressed spring means' carried by said tilt over means,retaining means associatedwith the ends of the spring meansholding the spring means in an energy stored condition, impact responsive means arranged to release said retaining means at one end of said spring means to permit partialexpansion of said spring means upon the application of an im- .pact forceon the free end of said tool, said one end of said springmeans when released acting on said ball to tilt and hold said fishing tool in said'tilted position, and means associated with said retaining means at the opposite end of said spring means being responsive to a jerk' on'said cable to release'the other end of said spring means permitting complete expansion of saidspring means whereby said tool is free to return to said untilted 14. An apparatus -according to claim 13 wherein said impact and jerk responsivermeans are both frangible.

References Citedin therfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,872,238 f Dafin Feb, 3, 

1. IN A WELL FISHING TOOL APPARATUS, AN ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOUSING, SPRING MEANS LOCATED IN SAID HOUSING, FIRST AND SECOND RELEASABLE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SPRING MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID SPRING MEANS IN A COMPRESSED STATE, UNIVERSAL JOINT MEANS, LOCATED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, MEANS CONNECTING SAID SPRING MEANS TO SAID UNIVERSAL JOINT MEANS, SAID FIRST RELEASABLE MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO DEFLECT SAID UNIVERSAL JOINT MEANS AT AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING MEANS WHEN SAID HOUSING MEANS IS JARRED, SAID SECOND RELEASABLE MEANS BEING OPERABLE WHEN SAID HOUSING MEANS IS JERKED IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID UNIVERSAL JOINT MEANS TO RELEASE SAID COMPRESSED SPRING FOR RETURNING SAID UNIVERSAL JOINT MEANS TO ITS NORMAL UNDEFLECTED POSITION. 